Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
